US 6,098,354 AGranted

Modular floor tile having reinforced interlocking portions

AssigneeDante Design Associates, Inc.

InventorChristine J. Skandis

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A modular floor tile having interlocking members which are reinforced to prevent a gap from forming between adjacent tiles during use. The tile comprises a plastic support grid having a rectangular configuration bounded by a perimeter wall on four sides and including a latticework of support members on the underside thereof. The support members are integrally formed as part of the tile and include leg portions extending downwardly therefrom which have common lengths in order to provide a single plane of contact at the supporting floor. Interlock members are coupled to and extend outward from the perimeter wall to enable removable attachment of additional modular tiles of similar design at corresponding edges thereof. A continuous sheet of plastic can be integrally formed in uniform thickness with a top surface of the tile to provide a flat surface on which recreational games can be played on an interlocked grid of tiles.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A plurality of modular tiles for forming a floor covering comprising:

a support grid having a top surface and an underside forming a generally rectangular configuration bounded by a perimeter wall;
first and second interlock members extending outwardly from opposing sides of said perimeter walls, respectively, for providing removable attachment of additional modular tiles;
said first interlock member having a U-shaped wall defining an aperture therein;
said second interlock member having a U-shaped post dimensioned to be received in said aperture of said first interlock member and including a detent for interlocking with said perimeter wall adjacent said first interlock member to securely interconnect adjacent modular tiles;
said modular tile characterized by said first interlock member including a U-shaped lip extending radially from said U-shaped wall for abutting against said underside of said interconnected tile for providing additional structural reinforcement to said first interlock member and between said adjacent tiles.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/056,239Filed 7 Apr 1998
Granted: 8 Aug 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

E01C 13/045
Pavings made of prefabricated single units: the prefabricated single units consisting of or including bitumen, rubber or plastics
E01C 5/20
Pavings made of prefabricated single units: made of units of plastics, e.g. concrete with plastics, linoleum
E04F 15/02194
Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements: flooring consisting of a number of elements carried by a non-rollable common…
E04F 15/105
Of other materials, e.g. fibrous or chipped materials, organic plastics, magnesite tiles, hardboard , or with a top layer of other materials: of…